Rotary engine.



Patented Dec. 304, I9'02.

J. PUTMAN.

RUTABY ENGINE. (Applcafion filed Jun 19, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

No. 717,023. Patented nec. 3o, |902. J. PuTMAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed June 19, 1902.) (No Model.)

3 Shady-Sheet 2.

no. 717,023. Patenten nen. 3o, |902,

u'. PUTMAN,

RUTARY ENGINE.

` (Application med :rune 1b, 1902.) (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 3,

litten STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PUTMAN, OF LOVINGTON, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,023, dated December30, 1902. Application filed June 19, '1902.A Serial No. 112,377. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN PUTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residingat Lovington, in the county of Moultrie and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following isaspeciication.

This invention relates to certain improvements in rotary engines, andhas for its oloject to construct an improved form of engine in which thesteam is automatically cut off to a greater or less extent as the speedof the engine increases.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofdouble-cylinder rotary engine in which the movable piston-abutments arearranged at approximately right angles to each other in the twocylinders in order to better equalize the pressure of steam on theabutments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved formof sliding abut- Inent having movable contact-faces for engaging theinner curved wall of the cylinder and so constructed as to permit ofadjustment for wear.

A still further object is to provide an iinproved form of abutment orpacking to separate the two sides of the cylinder from each other.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of paris hereinafter described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of arotary engine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional elevation of the saine on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the engine. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the governing device for regulating the quantity of steamadmitted to the cylinders at each half-revolution of its pistons. Figs.5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the valve mechanism. a sectional planview on4 the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, illustrating the arrangement of thecylinder-abutment or packing-strip. Figs. 9 and 10 are detailperspective views of one of the sliding piston-abutments. Fig. 11 is asectional elevation of a portion of the engine on the line 11 11 of Fig.l.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The cylinders 10 and 11 are arranged side by side, each beingapproximately circular in form and provided at one end with a removablehead 12, having a circular recess for the reception of the reduced endportion of the circular piston-body 14. Two pistonbodies are used, onebeinglocated in each of the cylinders, and both are secured to or formedintegral with a shaft 15, having a reduced central portion or hub 16,slightly separating the piston-bodies from each other, and around thiscentral portion or hub is titted a two-part casting 19, forming a headfor the adjacent ends of the two cylinders and being provided withsuitable ports or passages for admitting steam to the cylinders andpermitting its escape therefrom after passing through the cylinder.

The two piston-bodies are provided with diametral slots 20, arrangedapproximately at right angles to each other and adapted for thereception of sliding abntments of the character shown in Figs. 9 and 10.One abutment is arranged at each cylinder, and each of said abutments isin the form of a substantially rectangular plate formed in two sections2l and 22. The section 21 is provided with a recess in one of its facesfor the reception of the reduced end 23 of the section 22, and in theend of said section 23 is formed an inclined slot 24, in which is fitteda sliding wedge-block 25, having a flat face engaging with one wall ofthe recess in the section 21 of the abutment, While the inclined faceeugages with the inclined end wall of the slot 24. The sections are somade as to slightly overlap in order to prevent the passage of steam,and the construction is such that the juncture of the two sections ofeach abutment is always disposed within the slot in the piston-body. Inthe Wedge-block 25 is a threaded opening adapted for the receptionot'the threaded portion of a screw 25, having one end swiveled in asuitable opening formed in one wall of the recessed section 21 of theabutment, the head of the screw being arranged flush with the outer faceof said sec- IOO tion, so that by the employment of a screwdriver orother suitable tool the wedge may be adjusted in such manner as tolengthen the abutment and compensate for wear. In the outer ends of eachabutment are semicircular recesses 30 for the reception ot'packing-strips 3l, adapted for contact with the inner curved wall of thecylinder, the faces of such contact-strips being shaped to conform tothe walls of the cylinder and closely following the contour thereofwhile rocking or oscillating in the semicircular supporting-seats 30 inthe ends of the abutments.

In the opposite sides of each piston-body are annular grooves 32 for thereception of similarly-shaped packing-strips 33, adapted for contactwith the cylinder-heads, said packing-strips being pressed outwardlyinto intimate contact with the cylinder head by springs 34. Eachpacking-strip is cut away or is formed in two sections to permit thefree passage of the sliding abutments, as will be readily understood. 4

In the twopart central section 19 are two steam-ports 42 and 43,leading, respectively, to the cylinders l0 and 1l, the opening of one ofsuch ports being indicated at 44 in Fig. 2, and in said central portionare two exhaustports, one of which is indicated at 45 in Fig. 2, bothports leading to a common exhaust.

Secured to the central section 19 is a steamchest 46, into which steamis admitted through a port 47, the passage of the steam from this portto the ports 44 and 43 being governed bya peculiar form of valvemechanism. The steam-chest is provided with a removable head 48, havinga chamber 49, from which extend four ports or passages arranged atangles of ninety degrees from each other, the upper and lower ports inthe same vertical plane leading through the port 42 to the cylinder 10,while the remaining ports 51 of the horizontally-alined pair leadthrough the port v43 to the cylinder ll.

Secured within the steam-chest is a hanged disk 55, having four openings56, arranged in line with the ports and 5l, said disk being rigidlysecured in place and provided with a central opening for the passage ofa revoluble shaft 57, on which is mounted adisk valve 58 of thecharacter more clearly shown in Fig. 6. The Valve 58 is provided withtwo ports 59 of segmental form, each extending through an arc of aboutninety degrees, and the ports being arranged at diametrically oppositepoints, so that as the valve revolves the pairs of horizontally aliningand vertical alining ports of the disk Will be alternately placed incommunication with the steamchest,-steam passing simultaneously throughboth ports of the pair to supply steam to the same cylinder. The outerend of the shaft 57 is provided with a gear-wheel 60, driven by agear-Wheel 6l on the main shaft l5 of the engine through an intermediategear 62, mounted on a stud 63, carried by a standard 64, which alsoserves as a support for the shaft 57.

To the shaft 57 are secured two diametrically opposed arms 65, which maybe formed in a single casting, each arm being-provided near its outerend with a pivot-stud 66, and to better support this pivot-stud the armis formed with a bracket 67, having an opening for the reception of thepin. Each pin 66 carries a weighted lever 69, movable outwardly underthe influence of centrifugal force when the shaft 67 is rotated.

Each of the arms carries a tube 70, extending parallel therewith andserving for the reception and support of a compressionspring 7l tocounteract the outward movement of the governor-weights. The tension ofthe springs may be adjusted in any desired extent by nuts 72, adapted tothreaded stems v73, extending partially through the coils in which thesprings are wound. The outer ends of the springs 73 bear against theunder side of the weighted levers 69 and tend to resist the outwardmovement of the weights, so that by adjusting the nuts 72 thesensitiveness of the governor might be regulated and any desired speedmaintained. The weighted armsr 69 are rigidly secured to the studs 66,and the outer ends of the latter are extended beyond the brackets 67 andcarry segments 75, the inner ends of which are provided with gearteethadapted to intermesh with the teeth of a pinion 76, carried by a sleeve77, mounted upon the shaft 57.' The sleeve 77 extends through a suitablestuffing-box 78, formed in the head 49 of the steam-chest, and at itsinner end said sleeve is secured to a disk 79 of the character moreclearly shown in Fig. 7. The disk valve 79 is of substantially the sameconstruction as the steam-valve 58, being provided with segmental ports80, arranged at` diametrically opposite points and each extending`through an arc of somewhat less than ninety degrees. The disk-valve 79is mounted between the stationary disk 55 and the head 49 of thesteam-chest, and this valve, together with the steam-valve 58, issecured to its carrying device by a pin-and-slot connection, asindicated at=8l of Fig. 1, the connection being such as to permit slightmovement of the valve in order that it might readily-accommodate itselfto the valve-seat, While at all times being securely connected to thecarrying shaft or sleeve for rotative movement.

The steam-valve 58 is continuously rotated in the same direction bymeans of the gearing extending between the shaft 15 and the IOO IlO

IZO

valve-carrying shaft 57 and serves to alternately admit steam to thecylinders l0 and ll, the steam passing through the two vertical aliningports 50 to the cylinder 10 and then through the twohorizontally-alining ports 5l to the cylinder 1l. The cut-off valve 79.receives a partial rotative movement through the medium of thegovernor-segments 75, the

pinion 7G, and the sleeve 77, the direction of rimes movement beinggoverned by the speed of rotation of the main shaft and serving toregulate the quantityof steam admitted to the engine through thesteam-ports 59 of the valve 58. The position of the valves is governedby suitable adjustment of the train of gearing connecting the shafts l5and 57, and when once the valves are set they will be retained in properposition until the gears are changed.

In order to prevent the passage ot' steam between the inlet and exhaustsides of the cylinder, l employ a movable abutment or packing-strip ofthe character more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and S and comprising a bar90, having rounded edges adapted to a similarly-shaped recessin the wallof the cylinder immediately above the piston. The packingstrip 90 mayturn freelyin its rounded holding-recess and on its upper face has a lug91, carrying a plate-spring 92, the opposite ends of Which bear againstthe Wall of the upper rectangular portion of the recess, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2. rPhe spring serves to partially rotate thepacking-strip and maintains one edge thereof in intimate contact withthe periphery of the piston-body, the curved face of the strip beingpresented to the steam side ot' the cylinder and serving to eiiectuallyprevent the steam blowing over to the exhaust-port Without tirst actingon the sliding abutment.

Vhile the construction herein described,-

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is the preferred form ofthe device, it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportions,size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is l. The combinationina rotatory engine, of a plurality of steam-cylinders, pistons therein,asteam-chesthavingasingle steam-inlet, a plurality of ports leadingtherefrom to the cylinders, a revoluble disk valve for placing the portsof the respective cylinders alternately in communication with thesteam-chest, and means for revolving said valve.

2. The combination in' a rotatory engine, of a plurality ofsteamcylinders, pistons therein, a steam-chest having two pairs ofsteamports, the diametrically opposing ports of each pair being incommunication with the respective cylinders, a revoluble disk valvehavinga pair of ports adapted to alternately place the diametricallyopposing pairs of ports in comm unication with the steam-chest, andmeans for revolving said valve.

3. The combination in a rotatory engine, of a plurality ofsteam-cylinders, pistons therein, a steam-chest, steam-passages leadingtherefrom to the cylinder, a revoluble disk valve having ports foralternately placing the passages of the respective cylinders incommunication with the steam-chest, a ported disk valve movablecircumferentially to cut off the flow of steam through all of thesteampassages, and a governor controlling the position of the cut-offvalve, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with an engine, of a steam-chest, a stationary porteddisk therein, a revoluble steam-valve seated against one side of thedisk, a shaft carrying said valve, means for revolving the shaft, aported cutoff valve seated against the opposite side of the disk, asleeve mounted on the valve-carrying shaft and carrying the cut-offvalve, anda governing device for controlling the position of the sleeveand cut-off valve.

5. The combination with an engine, of a steam-chest, a stationary porteddisk therein, a steam-valve seated against one side of the disk, a shaftcarrying the steam-valve, a ported cut-off valve seated against theopposite side of the stationary disk, a sleeve mounted on thedisk-carrying shaft and carrying said cut-off valve, a centrifugalgovernor carried by the shaft, gear-segments operable by said governor,and a pinion secured to the cut-off sleeve and intermeshing With saidsegments.

6. The combination with an engine, of a steam-chest, a stationary porteddisk therein, a steam-valve seated against one sideI of the disk, acnt-oft' valve seated against the opposite side of the disk, concentricshafts on which said valves are loosely mounted, means for continuouslyrevolving the shaft of the steam-valve, and a governor for regulatingthe position of the cut-off valve.

7. The combination With asteam-engine, of the main shaft, a steam-chest,steam and cutott valves mounted concentrically Within the steam-chest, acarrying-shaft for the steamvalve, a train of gearing connecting saidcarrying-shaft to the main shaft of the engine, a pair of governor-armsrigidly secured to said carrying-shaft and having brackets disposed neartheir outer ends, pivot-studs disposed in openings in said brackets andarms, counterweighted levers secured to said studs, spring-carryingcylinders carried by the arms, adjustable springs disposed Within thecylinders and bearing against said levers, gear-segments secured to thepivot-studs, a sleeve mounted on the carrying-shaft and supporting thecut-off valve, and a pinion secured to said sleeve and intermeshing Withthe segments.

8. The combination in a rotatory engine, of the cylinder, a piston-bodyeccentrically disposed, and a sliding abutment carried by thepiston-body, said abutment comprising a pair of interfitting sectionsJ aWedge-block disposed between the sections, and means for adjusting saidWedge-block to regulate the length of the abutment.

9. A piston-abutment for a rotatory engine, comprising one sectionhaving a recess, a second section having a tongue fitting Within saidrecess and provided with an inclined Wall at one end, a Wedge-blockseated Withiny the recess and bearing against the inclined IOO IIO

l0. The combination in a rotatory engine,-

of a pair of cylinders, a shaft eccentrically mounted in said cylinders,piston-bodies carried by said shaft and provided With an intermediateportion of reduced diameter, a tWopart casing I'itted around saidintermediate portion and extending to a point Within the peripheral lineof the piston-bodies, packingrings carried by the opposite side Walls ofthe piston-bodies, abutments mounted in said piston-bodies, asteam-chest supported by the upper portion of the two-part casing,steampassages leading through said casing from the steam-chest to therespective cylinders, and means for controlling the flow of steam fromthe steam-chest to the cylinders, substantially as specified.

11. The combination in a rotatory engine, of the two cylinders,piston-bodies disposed therein and having an intermediate portion ofreduced diameter, a sectional casing fitting around said intermediateportion and forming the adjacent heads of the two cylinders, asteam-chest carried by the upper portion of said casing, steam-passagesformed in said casing and extending between the steam-chest and therespective cylinders, removable outer heads for said cylinders, annularpacking- :rings carried by both of the piston-bodies and bearing againstall of the cylinder-heads, and sliding abutments carried by saidpistonbodies.

12. The combination With a cylinder having a curved recess, of anabutment or packingstrip having curved side Walls and Seated in saidrecess, a lug carried by said abutment, a revoluble piston and aplate-spring extending between the lug and one Wall of the piston andtending to force the abutment into contact With the periphery of thepiston, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' JOHN PUTMAN. Witnesses:

L. G. HOSTETLER, FRED HARMON.

